The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-01
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE
FROM rANG1EE TO rUN1s.
Thousand Miles i'm Africa, by DIR. Henry NJ.
EieId. of the Now York I.xnnceIIst

many times. Wnen L thought TO finish the
tinent with Spain country that L had not
seen, and then pass over into Africa. Spain is
good preparation for Africa, for though /
would not 20 far as to say as certain
French writer did 10y which he gave mortal Of
fense), that Spain belongs more to Africa than
TO Europe, yet it partakes of BOTH and a trav-
ser who has been in the East will recognize
many things in which there is mingling of the
Orient with the Oecident. In Andalusia one
gees in the population frequent traces Of Moor
ish blood. Many words are derived from the
Arabic. Even their houses are half Oriental.
In walking tho streets OF Seville | found every
pretty house built around patio or little court
and as the outer door always open. could
not help seeing the orange trees within, and
often hearing the murmur of fountain,
which made feel for the moment rs if
were catching glimpses of interiors IN Cairo or
Damascus.
When the traveller has spent six weeks or two
months in spain he will naturally wind up with
Gibraltar. And here, if he should be detained
some days, he need not count his fate hard
one. tor he will not find many places in which he
could pass the time more PLEASANTLY. Before /
left New York Chief justice Daily, who is an old
traveller, giving his experience of Spain said
that "he had never spent a month in his lifeany.
where with more pleasure than he once did at
Gibraltar" Going with letter of introduction
70 the governor, Lord Napier Of Magdala he was
received with a courtesy which opened all doors
to him. was equally fortunate, though 1 had
only week instead of a month First of all l
found, what every American will fnd an adj
mirable representative of country in Mr..
Horatio J. Sprague. the oldest consul in the
service, who has held his post for thirty-nIne
years, his father held it before him, the father
having been appointed by General jackson, and
the son by President Polk For Introduction TO
the high officials in Gibraltar / was indebted to
the British minister in Madrid, and of their
courtesy / cannot speak too warmly. OF course
the English society is almost wholly mill
tary. but in the officers families
women" as we'll as brave men" and one may
count himself fortunate vino is introduced to
their kindness and hospitality. There al
ways here veterans OF the English army, who
have service in every quarter of the globe
and it adds greatly TO the interest even of an
military man like myself. as he sits under the
guns Of the greatest fortress in the world, to be
able to talk with those who have fought in the
Crmea or in heJndian mutiny, or led the attack
on the forts on the Peiho, or distinguished them
selves in the Ashantee Abyssnan campaigns.
Gibraltar is the steppng-stone TO Africa. AS
you stand on the top of the rock, and look south
ward you have in full view the African coast,
backed by the great range of the Atlas noun
tains all of which near that it seems as if
you could almost step across from one Pillar of
Hercules to the other.
1t is only sail of three hours from Gibraltar
TO Tangier, but if 1t a voyage of three
months, the change could not be more complete.
On the one eide is the mighty fortress. with the
English flag flying, red-coats in every street
and buees waking the echoes with the martial
airs of England" and on the other people of an
other race and language. living in complete bar
barism
The view of Tangier from the sea is very pict-
uresque, the houses rising one above another
somewhat as at Hong Kong. But the parallel
closes as soon as You put your foot on shore, for
here is nothing of the order and cleanliness of
nm English port. Indeed, if one wished to keep
in mind n DlpasaDt pictnra of TanQiar he would
not land at all, but content himself with the
view from the ships deck. IT, the other
hand, he yields to his curiosity, he will find him
self as soon rs he touches the shore, plunged
into all the filth of an Eastern town. The
row streets. in which men, ana donkeys and
camels jostle each other, full OF every kind of
abomination. To find anything attractive one
must go out of tho town to the environs where
the foreign consuls reside. The country has
much natural beauty. The soil is fertile yield
ing abundantly. and furnishes almost the entire
supply for the market of Gibraltar.
Morocco, of which Tangler is the port, is
large country, with resources which would make
it rich il it we're under the protection and
encouragement of good government. But it's
government is such exists in the heart of
Africa All power is vested in Sultan, who
lives at Fee. days the interior, and
whose sole idea OF the dignity OF his position is
that it gives him unlimited opportunity of
squeezing his unfortunate subjects. 1t is said
that be has scruple in despoiling any one of
his goods. or even taking his life. if he should
become rich enough to be worth the robbing
the killing. No man acquire property ex-
cept at his peril If he ia so inconsiderate as to
hoard money he is presently invited to Fee to
receive some mark of royal favor, and on the
way going coming, purely by accident" he
falls among thieves and does not the
bosom of his family Tor hrs harenl while his
wealth is seized as the penalty tor some mag
ined crime.
Among the sights OF Tangier is the prison.
where may look through a barred window
and see a number of wretched creatures, young
and old, the innocent and the guilty, all herded
together in one disgusting abode Of misery tho
greater part probably unt-iee, but none the less
doomed TO suffer till they their friends can
buy n release. The stories which one hears
enough to make his blood DOLL with Indignation.
us it not horrible outrage said high officer
at Gibraltar that such barbarism exist in
this nineteenth century. and right here sight
of Europel" / agreed with him fully as TO the
enormity of such laying waste of whole coun
try, and in the wish that the despotsm which
curses it might be swept away. But how is it
to DC dones There is no way but for
some European power to take pos
of Morocco. and which shall
it be- Spain is nearest in position. and might
be considered the natural successor TO the
Moor, but Spain herself is not a very enterpris-
ing power, and, If she were to inherit the estate,
there would be some change for the better, but
the progress would be very slow. Is 1t not
rather TO be wished III the interest of humanity
and civilization, that it should fall into the
hands OF Francef France has already the whole
coast from Gran to Tunis. Between the
province of Oran and Morocco there is only
line Of frontier. If the latter added to AL
geria France would have the shores of the
Mediterranean from Cane Boz TO the Straits of
Gibraltar, a distance OF thousand miles,
as well as n considerable coast on the Atlantic,
which would thus round out" her magnificent
African empire,
When that good time" comes doubt France
will continue her Algerian railway system west
ward TO Tangier, that traveller who likes to
take his comfort while seeing strange countries
seat himself in Pullman at the Straits
OF Gibraltar and be carried without a break all
the way to Tunis. But for theApresent &c will be
necessary take more to the sea and sail
along the African coast, or to return to Gibraltar
and from there take steamer to Oran. The
latter NAV be few hours longer. but if the boat
touches at Malaga may have pleasant sail
along the Spanish coast and half day to see
that city before he bears away for Africa
On this sea trip, in the land journey to AL !
giers, was fortunate in having as a eompagnon
de voyage the Bishop OF Gibraltar. who was just
|. nnnl .anA IT, -.